“With what results?”
“Among other things I discovered that there was an unusual activity commencing in the shipyards; army maneuvers were being conducted unostentatiously, and finally, the day I sailed, I heard a report that three transports were being fitted out at Wakayama, a closed port, and were to sail shortly under sealed orders.”
“Excellent! Have you any idea of the transports’ destination?”
“No, sir.”
“Why did you not send me this information before?” the Secretary spoke with unwonted sternness.
“I did cable a cipher despatch to Senator Carew. I thought you had requested him to get certain information, and did not care to have it sent through the Department directly.”
“The Senator did not take me into his confidence in the matter,” declared the Secretary, studying his companion’s face intently.
“That’s very strange,” muttered Douglas. “Very strange. Detective Brett, who is investigating the Carew case, declares, from writing found on a blotter, that the Senator wrote a letter to some unknown person. On one side of the blotter were clearly traced the words: ‘Am writing in case I don’t see you before ...’—and on the other: ‘I have discovered....’ Brett thinks Senator Carew was interrupted on two occasions while writing the letter, and laid the blotter on the fresh ink to prevent the person who entered from seeing what he had written.”
The Secretary followed Douglas’ story with the greatest attention. “A likely hypothesis,” he acknowledged, slowly settling back in his revolving chair, for he had been leaning forward on his desk the better to catch every word spoken by Douglas in his quiet monotone. “To whom do you think that letter was written?”